LEGO Ideas Discussion

[9v system]

Do we know If the Elsa's castle has been approved Yet?

[Robert8]

Not yet but it's pretty safe to assume it won't pass the review

I mean, LEGO already released that set recently

[MAB]

I'm not so sure about the physics set. That sort of toy already exists for a much lower price. But then the same is true of the marble maze and they approved that.

[legoman19892]

I'm not so sure about the physics set. That sort of toy already exists for a much lower price. But then the same is true of the marble maze and they approved that.

But you can change the maze... This is my favorite ideas set so far.

Edited September 9, 2015 by legoman19892

[ShaydDeGrai]

I'm not so sure about the physics set. That sort of toy already exists for a much lower price. But then the same is true of the marble maze and they approved that.

I could see a scaled down version of this passing. The original had a ridiculous number of brick built "dominos" that would make for a very tedious build and run up the part count while adding very little (unique) value. They could include just a few in the official set to illustrate the concept and let kids hit a PAB wall if they want hundreds. I think the "concept" of a 3D marble run as a sort of mini GBC could work though; there are already third party K-6 lecture kits that repackage Lego bricks to build such things for classroom use, so at the right price point it must be viable to someone.

Overall, I don't have much passion about this review batch. The sets I'd buy don't really stand much of a chance (as least not in their current form) and the others don't really appeal to me (that's a question of personal taste and the various subject matters - BTW- not a critique of project quality). In any case, best of luck to all.

[LegoPercyJ]

But you can change the maze... This is my favorite ideas set so far

Mine too. For the same reasons.

[Robert8]

So, why do you think the LEGO Ideas Ghostbusters HQ was rejected for?

a- Size factor

b- New pieces rule

c- The D2C set was already in the works

d- All of above

e- Other

[BrickJagger]

So, why do you think the LEGO Ideas Ghostbusters HQ was rejected for?

a- Size factor

b- New pieces rule

c- The D2C set was already in the works

d- All of above

e- Other

D2C was already in the works.

Don't see the same thing happening with Minas Tirith and Lotr, though. There won't be any interest for a theme that didn't sell that well and has been gone for three years.

[Blondie-Wan]

D2C was already in the works.

I agree. Possibly also e (i.e., some other reason we don't know about), but certainly c.

Don't see the same thing happening with Minas Tirith and Lotr, though. There won't be any interest for a theme that didn't sell that well and has been gone for three years.

It only started three years ago, and hasn't been gone more than one or so (and not even that much, if we count a certain game). But I do agree those projects are extremely unlikely to pass (which doesn't keep me from voting for them - helping demonstrate continued interest may well help some other, less ambitious project in the thrme get through sometime).

Edited September 19, 2015 by Blondie-Wan

[BrickJagger]

^ Lotr as a theme ended in June 2013, and even if Lego decided to make MT it wouldn't come out until next year.

Not counting the Hobbit, three years.

[Blondie-Wan]

If by "ended" you mean "had its last set introduced and was immediately dead as soon as it hit shelves", then yeah, but it makes more sense to me to consider it "dead" no earlier than when they've completely ceased production. The sets released in mid-2013 surely had some of their later runs rolling out of factories after that (and of course, further time passed between the final production run of a The Lord of the Rings set and the day the Tower of Orthanc finally sold out from LEGO itself). Also, you originally did not use the word "ended" or "died", but "gone", which to me even more strongly implied not just that no new sets were being introduced, not even that production had ended on all existing sets, but that the theme was generally sold out (at least from LEGO itself, if not every retailer). I mean, by your terms, the 10188 Death Star was "gone" in 2009, since it was released in 2008, even though it was finally discontinued only this year.

Moreover, even if we do use your criteria for saying when the theme is "gone", June of 2013 is still not three years ago, as it is presently September 2015, two years after June 2013 (or two years and three months if you want to get really picky). Three years ago, in September of 2012, the entire first wave of The Lord of the Rings sets was still widely available, with a then-forthcoming second wave still nine months away, which to me is a pretty bizarre state to consider "gone".

Edited September 20, 2015 by Blondie-Wan

[BrickJagger]

Yikes. You got me there.

Allow me to clarify a few things:

If Lego were to ever release a Minas Tirith set, it would come out in June 2016 at the earliest, as we already know all of the winter sets for next year. That would be exactly three years after the final Lotr wave hit the shelves, and two-and-a-half after the final production run.

Lego has not done anything to promote Lotr from June of 2013 until now, and even now the interest is fairly low compared to other dimensions themes. Other themes are brand new, such as Doctor Who and Midway Arcade, while Lego chose to rehash three Lotr characters for their "new" "sets".

[LEGODalekbuster523]

Fed up with LEGO Ideas.

They announced the LEGO Doctor Who set seven months ago and they still haven't revealed what it looks like.

This is no way to treat us Whovians.

[BirdOPrey5]

Fed up with LEGO Ideas.

They announced the LEGO Doctor Who set seven months ago and they still haven't revealed what it looks like.

This is no way to treat us Whovians.

Don't you think if they could show us, they would? They are obviously still waiting on licensing approval or some other legal issue. They aren't purposely saying "Let's screw over Dr. Who fans!"

[LEGODalekbuster523]

Don't you think if they could show us, they would? They are obviously still waiting on licensing approval or some other legal issue. They aren't purposely saying "Let's screw over Dr. Who fans!"

I honestly don't know. They stupidly didn't release details of the Wall.E set until a month before release. I'm not a fan of Wall.E anyway but couldn't help but feel sorry for those who are. LEGO Ideas seem to treat fans of these franchises pretty badly now.

Edited September 21, 2015 by LEGODalekbuster523

[Blondie-Wan]

I don't think it has anything to do with them treating fans badly. I think they just don't release details until they're ready to do so.

With WALL•E, for example, if they'd released the details earlier, then surely everyone would wonder what was taking so long to get it out in stores if it was done... but just because the design is finalized doesn't mean the factories had had enough time to produce however many thousands of them were needed. With the Doctor Who set, it's possible the design was finalized only fairly recently, and the packaging and instructions only after that, and they're still ramping up production to accommodate the anticipated demand. Would you prefer if they'd revealed the design a few weeks ago, but then still not actually released the set in stores until a couple months after that?

At least thanks to LEGO Dimensions, we have at least gotten to see some official imagery pertaining to this theme, and we know what the initial minifigures for the 12th Doctor and a Cyberman will look like, including special new molds for the sonic screwdriver, a Cyberman head, etc.

I want to see the set, too, but I seriously doubt LEGO is dragging out the wait for no other reason than to be jerks. They'll show it when they're ready to do so.

[LEGODalekbuster523]

I don't think it has anything to do with them treating fans badly. I think they just don't release details until they're ready to do so.

With WALL•E, for example, if they'd released the details earlier, then surely everyone would wonder what was taking so long to get it out in stores if it was done... but just because the design is finalized doesn't mean the factories had had enough time to produce however many thousands of them were needed.

I think people would have to be pretty thick to think that because a design for a upcoming LEGO set is revealed, it means it can be released now. And I haven't seen any evidence that people do think that. The Back to the Future set was shown ages before it came out and nobody thought 'Oh, surely they could release it now?'.

With the Doctor Who set, it's possible the design was finalized only fairly recently, and the packaging and instructions only after that, and they're still ramping up production to accommodate the anticipated demand. Would you prefer if they'd revealed the design a few weeks ago, but then still not actually released the set in stores until a couple months after that?

With any form of Doctor Who merchandise (or any merchandise even), I expect to see what it looks like and the thing itself to be up for pre-order at least four months before its due to come out. If they leave it a month before release like Wall.E, then it's simply nothing but bad form IMO. They should know better and show the fans (who are going to be buying the set) more respect instead of keeping them in the lurch. Plus, many people (even adults such as you and me) like to compose Christmas lists and that is impossible if certain things to be released in time for Christmas are not put up for pre-order on places such as Amazon.

At least thanks to LEGO Dimensions, we have at least gotten to see some official imagery pertaining to this theme, and we know what the initial minifigures for the 12th Doctor and a Cyberman will look like, including special new molds for the sonic screwdriver, a Cyberman head, etc.

That's independent of the Ideas set, though. It doesn't quench my thirst to see what the LEGO Ideas set looks like.

Edited September 21, 2015 by LEGODalekbuster523

[Phoxtane]

They should know better and show the fans (who are going to be buying the set) more respect instead of keeping them in the lurch.

Sorry, what? Lego doesn't owe you anything, except to produce a set in the timeframe that they said they would that corresponds to whatever licensing restrictions the BBC put on them - and they haven't told us the timeframe, so they're not beholden to any of us to get it out by a certain date.

Besides, last time I wanted a limited-run set (#41999) and they hyped it up ahead of time, they sold out within a week and at least half of those are still being held onto by the secondary market, many of whom went to great lengths to circumvent the restrictions on per-person or per-household sales, so I'm totally fine with them holding back the information until just ahead of the release date. If you're that worried, set aside $50-$75 on your Christmas budget and leave it at that.

[LEGODalekbuster523]

Sorry, what? Lego doesn't owe you anything, except to produce a set in the timeframe that they said they would that corresponds to whatever licensing restrictions the BBC put on them - and they haven't told us the timeframe, so they're not beholden to any of us to get it out by a certain date.

Besides, last time I wanted a limited-run set (#41999) and they hyped it up ahead of time, they sold out within a week and at least half of those are still being held onto by the secondary market, many of whom went to great lengths to circumvent the restrictions on per-person or per-household sales, so I'm totally fine with them holding back the information until just ahead of the release date.

They wouldn't need to hype it up. Just release some actual details plenty of time in advance instead of idiotically leaving it to the last minute.

If you're that worried, set aside $50-$75 on your Christmas budget and leave it at that.

I'm not sure what that solves for many who like to compose Christmas lists with links to Amazon and cannot because the set hasn't been put up for pre-order.

[MAB]

So you want them to show you the details of the set, along with the statement that "but you cannot buy it for another six months". To me, that's worse than having to wait for the set details.

Plus if they did that the the bootleg / knock-off makers get a headstart on making them in time for the official release.

[Artanis I]

To add to all of that, how many times has the eventual Ideas set looked much different from the proposal?

We have known for many months roughly what we are in for. How many people do you think are sitting on the fence about the set, depending on exactly which minifigs & details will be included? 4 months is an exceedingly long time for Lego sets to be revealed before release. Besides regular catalogue themes, 1 month is usually generous.

[LEGODalekbuster523]

So you want them to show you the details of the set, along with the statement that "but you cannot buy it for another six months". To me, that's worse than having to wait for the set details.

To me, waiting for the set details is worse. I'd rather see what it looks like in advance than wait ages and the details be announced a month before release. LEGO should know better than to leave it last minute.

Besides regular catalogue themes, 1 month is usually generous.

Don't make me laugh. Most sets are in the Argos catalogue four months before release.

[Lyichir]

Don't make me laugh. Most sets are in the Argos catalogue four months before release.

Which is why he explicitly stated "besides regular catalogue themes". Most sets that are sold through normal retailers get revealed early. But Direct to Consumer or "exclusive" sets (which include Ideas sets, even if certain retailers also stock some of them) generally only get revealed a month or two before release. The same will probably apply to the Doctor Who set.

[CopMike]

To me, waiting for the set details is worse. I'd rather see what it looks like in advance than wait ages and the details be announced a month before release. LEGO should know better than to leave it last minute.

Everybody can have there own opinion. But I think a statement like your "LEGO should know better than to leave it last minute." just might be a bit to self cofident. I know there are a fine line between keeping information "secret" to avoid other companys to copy and start selling a set before the release by Lego, and satisfying fan wishes for early info. And there could be marketing plans involved to not flood the market with certain types of sets at the same time. But do feel fre to send a message with your thoughts to Lego!

[LEGODalekbuster523]

Which is why he explicitly stated "besides regular catalogue themes". Most sets that are sold through normal retailers get revealed early. But Direct to Consumer or "exclusive" sets (which include Ideas sets, even if certain retailers also stock some of them) generally only get revealed a month or two before release. The same will probably apply to the Doctor Who set.

Back to the Future didn't. It was in the Argos catalogue four months before release, I believe.